Letters to the editor July 12

Principal grateful for support

To the editor:
As we have recently completed a successful school year, I would like to take this opportunity to personally express my sincere gratitude to the many “special people” in our community who have made this possible.  Our higher test scores, academic growth, exciting learning experiences, and engaging classroom activities were all complimented by our community support!
 To our staff, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for giving of your time, energy, personal resources, and a genuine passion for educating and caring for our children.
 I would also like to express my thanks to our parents and community businesses for donating resources, time, supplies, and support – so many student centered projects would not have been possible without your support!
 Our staff is involved in several weeks of training throughout the summer preparing for, what we feel, will be our best year ever!  So, thank you parents, business partners, and staff for your support in the past, as we approach a promising year ahead!
Marla Hiers
Principal, Williston Elementary

Background check could prevent woes

To the editor:
     For Council consideration: Council is discussing a City Manager salary of $60,000 per year.  This is first cost but not the true cost.
    Our past City Manager’s issues have cost the City legal fees, settlement fees, probably increased insurance fees and all kinds of other professional fees which need to be factored into the true annual salary.
    A review of the hiring procedure might be a better consideration than to make an issue of the salary.
   I believe our Council is better than the results for which we’ve paid.
    There are companies that perform background investigations.  They have access to Federal and State records and will conduct a thorough investigation into past work history.  
     This cost is minimal to the expenses of the past and may give the City some stability in management which would ultimately cut costs by retaining a truly viable administrator.
Richard Dass 

Are we repeating history
To the editor:
    In 1928, we elected as president a nice guy, a successful businessman and a successful public servant (he ran the relief program in Europe after WWI).
Herbert Hoover became one of the worst presidents in our history.
In history class, we were given a reason for studying history–”History repeats itself.”
In this election we have a similar situation.
A nice guy is running for president, a successful businessman, a successful public servant and the same philosphy.
Are we headed for a similar situation–a Great Depression?
Edward Murphy
Beverly Hills